[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 54349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25964]



[[Page 54349]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Assistant Secretary Water and Science


Central Utah Project Completion Act; Notice of Availability of 
the Record of Decision on the Diamond Fork System Final Supplement to 
the Final Environmental Impact Statement Documenting the Department of 
Interior's Approval for the Central Utah Water Conservancy District To 
Proceed With the Construction of the Proposed Action Alternative

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science, 
Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Record of Decision on the Diamond 
Fork System Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: On September 29, 1999, Mark Schaefer, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary--Water and Science, Department of the Interior (Interior), 
signed the Record of Decision (ROD) which documents the selection of 
the Proposed Action Alternative as presented in the Diamond Fork System 
Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FS-FEIS), 
INT FES 99-25, filed July 1, 1999. The ROD also approves the Central 
Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD) proceeding with construction of 
the Diamond Fork System, in accordance with statutory and contractual 
obligations. The following features will be constructed as part of the 
Proposed Action: (1) Sixth Water Connection, (2) Tanner Ridge Tunnel, 
(3) Diamond Fork Siphon, (4) Red Mountain Tunnel, (5) Red Hollow 
Pipeline, (6) Diamond Fork Creek Outlet, (7) Spanish Fork River Outlet, 
and (8) possible modifications to Spanish Fork River diversion dams. 
The ROD acknowledged that value engineering studies would be conducted 
that could result in minor modifications to the physical facilities to 
further reduce environmental impacts and reduce construction costs.
    The Proposed Action specifically fulfills project needs to: (1) 
Maintain the statutorily mandated minimum flows in Sixth Water Creek 
and Diamond Fork Creek; (2) implement Interior's environmental 
commitments on the Diamond Fork Pipeline from the 1995 ROD, which 
includes but is not limited to removing high flows brought over from 
Strawberry Reservoir into the Sixth Water and Diamond Fork creek 
drainages; (3) meet the CUWCD's M&I water contractual commitments to 
Salt Lake, Utah and Wasatch Counties, by conveying Bonneville Unit 
water to Utah Lake for exchange to Jordanelle Reservoir; and (4) 
provide the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission 
(Mitigation Commission) the opportunity and flexibility for future 
restoration of aquatic and riparian habitat in Sixth Water and Diamond 
Fork Creeks to protect water quality and threatened species in Diamond 
Fork Creek.
    The FS-FEIS for the Diamond Fork System, considered alternatives to 
complete the Diamond Fork System as mandated in section 302(a)(6) of 
the Central Utah Project Completion Act (CUPCA). Interior, the 
Mitigation Commission, and CUWCD served as the Joint Lead Agencies in 
the preparation of the NEPA compliance documents.
    During preparation of the FEIS, CUWCD consulted formally on listed 
species with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under Sec. 7 of 
the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C.A. sections 1531 to 1544, as 
amended). A draft Biological Opinion was issued which evaluated project 
impacts on the June sucker and Ute ladies' tress. The Opinion concluded 
the Proposed Action would not affect the bald eagle or peregrine 
falcon. The Biological Opinion also included a list of recommendations 
which if agreed to and implemented by the Joint-Lead Agencies, will 
result in a non-jeopardy Biological Opinion. The Joint-Lead Agencies 
have included these recommendations as environmental commitments in the 
ROD. A final Biological Opinion was issued by the USFWS on August 24, 
1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information on matters 
related to this Federal Register notice can be obtained at the address 
and telephone number set forth below: Mr. Reed Murray, Program 
Coordinator, CUP Completion Act Office, Department of the Interior, 302 
East 1860 South, Provo, UT 84606-6154; Telephone: (801) 379-1237, E-
mail: [email protected].

    Dated: September 30, 1999.
Ronald Johnston,
Program Director, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 99-25964 Filed 10-5-99; 8:45 am]
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